Guy Gal has always been a problem solver. Growing up, he liked to solve complex problems especially when they affect people he cares about. He also liked to do it for those who deserve to be helped because they were exploited or mistreated. This had a great impact on how he made decisions in his life.
Guy started his first company in college and what started as a little weekend project eventually grew into a company with hundreds of employees. Many years later, he realized that this was not how he wanted to live the rest of his life. He wanted to live his life more deliberately and find something that he will enjoy doing forever. It didn’t matter how difficult or complicated it was, as long as it’s worthwhile.
Then he remembered how he, as a consumer, had both good and bad experiences with real estate. He wondered where that inconsistency came from and asked an agent about it. He was told that no matter how much creativity, effort and hard work an agent puts in a transaction, it’s the brokerage that gets the credit. That’s why some agents prefer to have a company of their own without having to operate a brokerage to do it.
That’s when Guy had the idea of starting an “invisible” brokerage that will come in and do all the back-office work to serve the agent and his brand with no compromises whatsoever.
Today, Guy Gal is the CEO and Co-Founder of Side Inc, the only real estate brokerage that exclusively partners with top-producing agents to help them operate, develop and grow their businesses. He is dedicated to transforming high-performing agents into market-leading boutique brands and believes that the future of real estate is local, boutique, specialized, and agent-owned.
Let’s hear from Guy as he shares his insights about the real estate industry, his mission to go against the monoliths in the business, and how his achievements paved the way for his company to earn the title - Company of the Year by INMAN.
Top Takeaways:
07:24 Why Guy chose the real estate industry
09:05 The magical “AHA” moment that started Side
13:08 Who was Side’s very first partner
21:35 Why Side only caters to 3 states
24:21 The most important question to ask when you’re building a business
24:40 What the real estate industry needs
26:12 The difference between a meaningful enterprise from a financially sound one
40:16 Why entrepreneurs need to start with the end in mind
42:27 Where is the industry headed to 3 to 5 years from now
44:13 How brokerages contribute to the commoditization of the agent
51:18 The most important statistic for Side
51:52 What Guy is most proud of about his business
To know more about Guy Gal, visit: https://www.sideinc.com/
GRIT: The Real Estate Growth Mindset